January 10, 2022 -- BD has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the BD Kiestra Identifa system, which is designed to automate the preparation of microbiology bacterial identification testing.
The BD Kiestra Identifa uses BD synapsys informatics to select discrete bacterial colonies from a digital plate image. Sophisticated robotics then physically pick selected organisms and prepare the sample for specific identification testing. Automation reduces the potential for human error when preparing samples for bacterial identification and can produce a more accurate diagnoses for patients, BD said.
It is the only FDA-cleared solution that is available as part of a track-connected system for lab automation to support specimen preparation workflows for routine and challenging isolate types, the company added. The combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry can yield more rapid and accurate identification of bacteria and yeasts to aid clinician treatment decisions, according to the firm.